[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6210960,"mediaKeyId","3702406-76aa4c2846d1f9617163de4eb9735a46","parentId",3702406,"title","Buncombe County Board recognizes students, teachers and staff including bus driver of the year and state champions","audioSeconds",561,"startMs",1680000,"endMs",2241000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3702406-76aa4c2846d1f9617163de4eb9735a46&start=1680&end=2241","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3702406-76aa4c2846d1f9617163de4eb9735a46/thumbnail_1680000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6210960/North-Carolina/Buncombe-County-Board-recognizes-students-teachers-and-staff-including-bus-driver-of-the-year-and-state-champions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210960-2feaf6e9b74c80739ef608d85e852e57/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157709&Signature=NuNHjsETLH4colcAoPjwYlpuQ7eITzTn0u1moatU52ryouT7odP4m3bhRD8u3t2PEFVsnmE1U8MNDvt4zisubk-q3oy7riVoWM6csqG9zt6~suCWBDI541LKfNiAqUjtOqursrOwo3DBs4IwjR9QG3ubCMyHFu7mSfha2gQGRnsT~LfXCQ0DzhjtT2KNNt5KqvW36ftD5C7Ndu5vxc9M9Y8DctUEqRoWAwPB8DvpfCDvHzQJdUlVzFCvJoZlBtBszf7P8zoYeq9N7S0nVX2ZFtOn9OzOchQ-7ygrpn0AJHIhNicwiGxGD6ejrfUXhSdmsfAc2xnRbsMpOqLz1G8r0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-07T16:26:04.28Z","article","The Buncombe County Board of Education used its June meeting to recognize students, teachers and staff for statewide and national achievements, and to honor a bus driver credited with community service during a weather emergency.

Board member Ulmer introduced a Kuntz Intermediate team that advanced to North Carolina’s first statewide elementary Battle of the Books competition. The board also recognized theatre students from North Buncombe and Anken high schools who qualified for the International Thespian Festival and band director Kevin Young of Anken High School, who received the North Carolina Bandmasters Award of Excellence for the Western Region.

Jeremy Stowe, Buncombe County Schools transportation director, presented Donna Edwards as the district’s 2024–25 Bus Driver of the Year and described her work during storm response. Stowe recounted calling Edwards to assist with evacuations when hurricane Helene approached and said she “drove to 1 A.M. that night and then I called her back in 04:30 the next morning and she kept driving.” Stowe quoted Edwards’ response when first asked to help: “Whose bus are we taking?”

The board also honored National Board–certified teachers. Phil Justin, who coordinates National Board certification for the district, told the board that 23 teachers in the district were newly certified this year and that the district’s total national board–certified teachers now numbers 293; he also noted 16 teachers renewed certification. Justin described National Board Certification as a rigorous process that typically requires about 150 hours of work outside a teacher’s normal day.

Athletic recognitions included Anken High’s Josh Flack, the 3A men’s high jump state champion (6 feet, 10 inches), and Graham Cannon, the 3A men’s discus champion (173 feet, 9 inches). AC Reynolds’ 3A women’s 4x800 team — June Lease, Stella Redmond, Eva Hamilton and Lucy Skierzynski — won the state title with a time of 9:35. The board also honored members of the T.C. Robertson baseball team for winning a third straight NCHSAA baseball championship, naming co-MVPs Micah Simpson and Kaden Davidson and teammates J.T. Smith and Zeb Swangam.

No competitive awards required board action; the recognitions were ceremonial and intended to highlight staff and student achievement before the district’s summer break.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Buncombe County Schools Board of Education Meeting - 6/5/25 (Pt.1)","oneSentenceSummary","At its June meeting the Buncombe County Board of Education honored a statewide elementary Battle of the Books team, a bus driver who aided evacuations, national board–certified teachers, performing-arts qualifiers and state athletic champions.","taxTitle","Buncombe County Schools, School Districts, North Carolina","taxId",13012,"location","North Carolina","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6210965,"Buncombe County Schools highlights storm recovery and continued academic progress at board meeting",107,833000,940000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3702406-76aa4c2846d1f9617163de4eb9735a46&start=833&end=940","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3702406-76aa4c2846d1f9617163de4eb9735a46/thumbnail_833000.jpg","/articles/6210965/North-Carolina/Buncombe-County-Schools-highlights-storm-recovery-and-continued-academic-progress-at-board-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210965-09f86044c5a74bdc7ac709adb1f3d48f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157709&Signature=bv0GbZsjQ0dex~gB0WVEbz93U2rTMz5VmVPRH6aEWH3UuPZHJnBqvABzX53Sq~3~naX5LHwUy7URsrqRBFDYe7m8eJKV7Oj~fom7c4ti7Z1XQa-~szbN3ExYLOoAmCQTlMJwYp5mIyuWpwYL18pBOOM0F3XCr8Q8pCsF~MxNtD8waH8i9oqKnmfmwJosCdHVSNYsUw8y0PFSJ~g9mrWh418MuvYuJ8-~Sa4wMSuicu6-oNVRj0eC35rEFzKDjKLMzlNuCFeVgGnXTf2FFCoUXwXOG-BMksdYS8tCKOwledd2BhSszv0RtwaChK4qTdZ2NXhP8mgCC2Vaw8XmfRa31g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Jackson told the Buncombe County Board of Education on Thursday that Buncombe County Schools had acted as a community safety net during and after a recent, severe storm and that academic progress continued despite widespread disruption.

“This was truly our finest hour,” Superintendent Jackson said, describing schools that served as shelters and buses that delivered meals, supplies and comfort to families affected by the storm. The superintendent credited district maintenance crews, central office staff, teachers and community partners for supporting recovery and keeping students learning.

The district reported several formal recognitions that board members said signaled continued academic momentum. Buncombe County Schools was named an Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Promising Practices District by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and the district’s Migrant Education Program received the Department’s 2024–25 award for continuous program improvement. Superintendent Jackson said those honors reflect sustained instructional work tied to the district’s strategic plan and pointed to an upcoming revised instructional framework focused on classroom practice.

Board members and district staff described concrete recovery efforts: buses that delivered meals and supplies to displaced families, maintenance crews repairing damaged facilities, and central office staff coordinating relief. Graduation ceremonies were underway, the superintendent added, and staff and students were being recognized systemwide for resilience and achievement.

The board also approved a procedural amendment to the meeting agenda to add a later discussion about Robertson District school capacity; the amendment passed by voice vote and the added item was placed at the bottom of the action agenda, the board announced.

Board members thanked district staff for mounted relief and recovery efforts and said they would continue board development work over the summer. No new policy decisions or budget actions related to storm recovery were adopted at the meeting; the board’s remarks and recognitions were narrative and celebratory in nature.

Board members and staff said the district will continue to report on recovery and instructional implementation in future meetings.","Superintendent Jackson told the Buncombe County Board of Education in June 2025 that schools served as shelters and district teams helped with relief after a major storm, and district leaders noted continued academic recognition including AIG and migrant program awards.","actionData","errors"]

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Buncombe County Board recognizes students, teachers and staff including bus driver of the year and state champions

Buncombe County Schools highlights storm recovery and continued academic progress at board meeting